Hi guys, here's an update! I changed my mind about Lyla! I am giving the role back to Audrey Marie Anderson!
Also to clarify, William doesn't know that Oliver is The Arrow or Laurel is The Black Canary. They do their best to hide their secrets from their children beut it does affect the relationship they wiull have with them when they get older.
"What is it?" Oliver asked as he lifted Jasmin out of William's arms. William ran inside the house.
"My father sent Leauge members to Star City because he got word that Malaq has been missing. Now they know he is dead and I was tortured until I gave up the identity of his killer. My father is very upset with you and he wants to fight. I am sorry, Oliver" Nyssa said.
"It's alright, Nyssa. Are you okay?" Oliver asked.
"Yes," Nyssa said. "I have been enduring the League's torture tactics since childhood".
"I'll fight your father... in exchange for his help," Oliver said. He was looking at the spot where Slade had fallen, but Slade had gotten up and stumbled into the woods. "I am guessing that Slade's plans are just beginning and I could use the League's back up".
"You are an enemy of my father," Nyssa said. "He doesn't think that he owes you anything".
"Then remind your father that I killed Malcolm Merlyn," Oliver said.
Nyssa nodded and she turned and left without another word.
Shortly after dawn, Oliver had met Barry in the field where Barry had first tested his speed. Oliver had been up most of the night, suffering from terrible nightmares. He was launching arrow after arrow at Barry but Barry outran them. He stopped right where Oliver had anticipated and caught the final arrow in mid-air. "Nice try," Barry said.
Two automatic arrow launchers fired from behind Barry and Barry screamed as they impaled his back. Oliver walked behind Barry and pulled the arrows out. "I heard you heal fast," he said.
"C'mon man, why did you do that?" Barry complained.
"To teach that your speed isn't everything," Oliver said. "Just because don't see an attack coming, doesn't mean it isn't".
Barry was taking deep breaths. "You couldn't just explain that" he huffed.
"Alright Barry, it's okay to take a minute," Oliver said and Barry sat down in the grass.
"So Slade Wilson, where do you know him from?" Barry asked.
"Slade and I used to be friends" Oliver confessed. "He lost the love of his life and he blames me for it. I guess that it was kind of my fault".
"So he is trying to get revenge..." Barry said. "Do you know exactly how?"
"He is utilizing a drug that I administered to him. I did it to save his life" Oliver said.
"Does anyone else know?" Barry asked.
"Not yet," Oliver said. "I was going to explain everything to Laurel, but she was shot in the shoulder yesterday and then she pulled herself into the mansion through an upstairs window. There was adrenaline going, but now she is hurting. She is going to rest all of today and spend time taking care of the kids". Oliver sat down next to Barry.
"So," Barry said. "Roy is on the same drug you used on your friend?"
"Yes," Oliver answered. "I had a feeling that Slade was behind this months ago, but I had to see it to believe it. Are you ready to get back to training?"
"Yup," Barry said. He pushed off the ground and brushed off his suit. 'Can I ask you something though?"
"Yeah," Oliver said.
"When Laurel was pregnant with Jasmin, how did you go out there every night and do what you do, knowing that your child was on the way? What if you got hurt and you couldn't be there for your child?" Barry asked.
"Barry, I had to go through that on Lian Yu. Laurel was pregnant and she thought I was dead. I knew she was going to give birth and I wouldn't be there... for her, or that child. My first born... and that made everything so much harder. But when it came to Jasmin, I had already been a part of William's life and there is not anybody more important to me. So I knew that with his sibling on the way, I had to keep fighting. Being what this city needs and saving it, so my children can grow up here and be safe and reach their full potential" Oliver said.
Barry looked down and shook his head. "Oliver, even though I really want to, I am not sure that I can be like you".
"You won't be like me, Barry. You can be better than I ever can be. You can be a hero, save people and inspire people, in a flash" Oliver said.
"I like that," Barry said. "In a flash..."
After training with Barry, Oliver headed back to the mansion. Lunch was on the table already and Laurel placed Jasmin down. "Hey," Oliver said and Laurel and he pecked each other on the lips.
"Daddy, did you bring home my cake?" William asked.
"Oh no, Bud, I forgot to call in the order for your cake. I'm so sorry, I'll get you ice cream tomorrow".
"Tomorrow won't be my birthday anymore" William whispered.
"Hey, Willi- will, it will still be in honor of one of the best days of mommy and daddy's lives. We don't always get to celebrate our birthday on our actual birthday, but the celebration will be just as special when it does happen" Laurel said and then she made direct eye contact with Oliver. "We have to talk".Laurel grabbed both Oliver's and her own plate and placed them in the sink and she walked out of the room. Oliver followed her a silent minute later. leaving William at the table on his own.
"Those are never words that a boyfriend wants to hear," Oliver said once they were inside Jasmin's nursery.
"I set up an appointment for Jasmin. I am taking her for 5:30" Laurel said
"First, we are. Secondly, what is the appointment for?" Oliver asked, concern all over his face.
"She has had on and off sweats and chills and she even vomited. I am not sure if I should feed her" Laurel said. Oliver walked over to where Jasmin was lying. He placed his hand on her forehead.
"What's going on, baby girl?" Oliver cooed. He turned around to face Laurel and whispered. "I am going to pay a visit to a contact of mine tonight" Oliver whispered. "I'll drive you to Jasmin's appointment and pick you up. I'll ask Thea and my mother to watch William. Hopefully, they will use the opportunity to come back together".
After dropping his girlfriend and daughter at the doctor's office, Oliver parked his car a few blocks away and walked to the gas station where a few members of the Bratva were working. In Russian, Oliver explained that he needed to speak to Alexi Leonov right away.
"Oliver Queen. I am pleased to see that you are back... what can I do for you?" Leonov asked, the corners of his lips curling upward.
"I need information on Slade Wilson. He's in the city and he wants revenge on me. I need to prevent the revenge" Oliver said, causing Leonov's smile to widen.
"I know what you want to know, but I need something taken care of that you can take care of for me... are you interested?"
Oliver looked down and slightly nodded his head before retrieving his handgun from his pants pocket and shooting each of Leonov's men in the groin. He moved swiftly around Leonov and put him in a loose choke-hold, pressing the gun against his temple. "I am not doing you any type of favor, but you are going to tell me what I need to know. Am I making myself clear enough?"
Leonov sneered. "You would like that? Wouldn't you?"
Oliver tightened the hold and lowered the gun, shooting off Leonov's big toe. "You still nine toes. Do you want to surrender the information? Because I can shoot off as many extremities as you have".
"I would rather choke on my own tongue" Leonov replied. One of Leonov's men got up and charged at Oliver, so Oliver quickly released Leonov and smashed the gun against the man's scalp, causing him to go unconscious. In the short time, Leonov tried to get away, but Oliver shot the back of knees. Leonov folded down to his knees and Oliver shot off his ear. He approached Leonov and stepped on his ankles, pushing all of his weight down on them. He pressed the gun back against Leonov's temple.
"Slade has a plan to murder Starling City. He is using an office, I think that he is sharing it with Sebastian Blood, or at least in the same building".
"Do you know who the man in the skull mask is?" Oliver barked.
"Skull mask?" Leonov asked, sounding like he thought Oliver was out of his mind.
"Okay, nevermind. Are you telling me the truth?" Oliver asked.
"Of course I am" shouted Leonov. "You have a gun to my head". Oliver released him. "I hope the information was worth it, Oliver Queen because you are no longer associated with the Solntsevskaya Bratva".
"Fine" Oliver said and he left the men there.
John sat in his car outside Felicity's house and he looked up to see Felicity walking to his car with two mugs of hot chocolate in her hands. "Hi, John," she said. She passed him a mug through the window and Felicity climbed into the passenger's seat. They sipped from their mugs in silence for at least a minute and then Felicity said: "If I were on Slade Wilson's hit list, then I think I would've been attacked already".
"Slade is going after the most important people in Oliver's life, Felicity. We have no idea who he is going to hit, but there is no doubt that you fall in the category" John said.
"So do you, John. And I have a boyfriend with superpowers, you don't" Felicity reminded John.
"You're pregnant, I am not" John argued.
"Still John, Slade is on some drug that gives him superhuman strength and durability. If he showed up to attack me right now, you couldn't stop him. But I love you for being concerned" Felicity said, laying her head down on John's shoulder. John's phone buzzed and he received a message from an unknown number.
"I'm needed for an urgent meeting, I think this has something to do with ARGUS. Lyla just started a position there and she is trying to get me involved. This is probably some job interview ambush" John said with a half-chuckle. "I am going to drop you off at the foundry because it will be safer there".
When Felicity got down to the foundry, it was a full house. Oliver, Laurel, William, Jasmin, Roy, and Thea were all sitting down there. "Hey," Oliver said. "I was gonna pick up a big Italian dinner, what do you think you want?"
"I'll have whatever Laurel is having," Felicity said and Oliver nodded. Felicity sat down next to Laurel. "I didn't miss anything, right?" she asked.
"Oliver got some information from a Bratva contact, and we know more than we did last night" Laurel shared.
"Oliver told Laurel what happened between him and Slade. Oliver jammed an arrow through his eye" Roy said.
"He had to do it" Laurel added.
After finishing dinner, Felicity computer screen lit up with a distress notification sent by Detective Lance. "There is a crime in progress" she announced to the team. Roy and Laurel jumped to their feet but Oliver held up his hand. "Please, all of you stay here. Especially you Roy, if Slade comes here, you are the only one who is a match for him"
Oliver put on his suit and Oliver went over to the bed where William was sleeping. He was lying on his stomach and Jasmin was on her stomach, on top of William's back. He kissed both them on the top of their heads. "Happy birthday" he whispered to his son.
Oliver used several grappling arrows to swing through the city and when he reached the city's plaza, he latched himself to the side of a building and lowered himself towards the ground. He shot an arrow into the purp's arm to get his attention. "Hey" he shouted and charged towards The Arrow. The Arrow took a leap and kicked the purp in the head. The lowlife's neck twisted back and he fell down.
The Arrow towered over him. "What do you think you are doing?" he yelled.
"Leave me alone" the purp shouted.
"I can't do that and you know I can't" Oliver growled and he shot a bola arrow tha tied the man up and weighed him down. He heard sirens and twisted his upper body to launch a grappling arrow. He watched the police apprehend the man from a rooftop and he turned to make his exit, but something stopped him in his tracks. There it was. That mask that was ever present in Oliver's nightmares. For all he knew, he could be dreaming. He looked down at mask and he felt like he couldn't move. Oliver stared at it for so long that even in the dark Oliver could see the details of the arrow that Slade had driven through the eyehole.